The last rites of the 45 Indian nationals who died in the horrific bus accident in Saudi Arabia will be conducted near Mecca and Medina. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have already begun preparations, and the Saudi government will oversee the entire funeral process. Families of the deceased have been invited to be present, with 35 relatives from Telangana already having departed for Saudi Arabia. All funerals are expected to take place on Thursday, following Islamic traditions.

The decision to conduct the last rites in Saudi Arabia was taken after a request by the Telangana government. The state has arranged for two family members of each victim to travel to Saudi Arabia at government expense, with the Haj Committee handling the logistics.

Telangana’s Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin is personally supervising the arrangements and has been in Saudi Arabia for the past two days.

Identification of the bodies is still in progress
Saudi authorities have begun issuing death certificates for the victims whose identities are confirmed. However, several bodies remain unidentified due to severe burns. For these, DNA testing will be conducted, and certificates will be issued once identification is complete. Funerals in Saudi Arabia only begin after all death certificates are finalized.

45 lives lost in the tragedy
The accident occurred when a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims, most of them from Telangana, collided with an oil tanker on the Mecca–Medina highway. The impact triggered a massive explosion, killing 45 people on board.